When Something Goes Wrong at Your Site
A fire that will not go out, a slope that is moving, leachate where it should not be. SHA engineers help landfill and waste-site operators assess the problem, plan the response, and document it for the regulator.
If there is an active fire, or any immediate danger to people or property, call 911 or your local fire department first. SHA works alongside fire crews and your operators on the engineering side: assessment, monitoring, containment design and reporting.
Our phone line is answered during office hours. Outside those hours, leave a voicemail or send us the details and we will reply the next business day.
Situations we help with
Most urgent landfill problems are engineering problems underneath. The sooner the right data is collected, the smaller the fix.
Landfill fires, surface and subsurface
Hot spots, smoke from cracks, rising carbon monoxide or settling ground. We assess extent and help plan oxygen cut-off, excavation and cover so the fire does not come back.
Slope or waste movement
Cracking, bulging or sliding on a waste face, berm or stockpile. We check stability, set up monitoring and design the fix.
Leachate seeps and breakouts
Leachate surfacing on a slope, in a ditch or off site. We find the source, contain it and plan the permanent repair.
Gas found off site or in buildings
Methane in a nearby building, utility trench or monitoring probe. We investigate migration paths and recommend control measures.
Storm, flood or wildfire damage
Washed-out covers, flooded cells, damaged drainage, and planning for the debris that disasters leave behind.
Regulatory orders and incident reports
A compliance letter, inspection finding or incident that needs an engineer’s assessment and a corrective action plan.
From the first call to the final report
Call and triage
Tell us what you are seeing. Photos, monitoring data and site plans help us judge how urgent it is and what to bring.
Assess the site
An engineer reviews the site in person or remotely, with drone mapping and gas or temperature readings where they help.
Stabilize and contain
We design the immediate measures and work alongside your operators, contractors and fire crews while they are carried out.
Report and prevent
Documentation for the regulator, the likely cause, and a plan to stop it happening again.
Be ready for the bad day
The best emergency response is planned in advance. We help owners and operators prepare:
- Landfill fire prevention and response plans
- Carbon monoxide and gas monitoring probe networks
- Slope and settlement monitoring programs
- Disaster debris management and recovery planning
- Operations reviews that reduce fire and stability risk
- Emergency contacts and procedures built into your operations plan
Frequently asked
Does SHA put out landfill fires?
No. We are engineers. Fire departments and your operators handle firefighting. We provide the engineering around it: finding the extent of a fire, monitoring it, designing measures to cut off oxygen and cool the waste, and confirming when it is out.
Is a subsurface landfill fire an emergency?
It can be. Underground fires can burn for months, damage liners and gas systems, and cause the surface to collapse without warning. Signs include smoke or steam from cracks, unusual settlement, and high carbon monoxide or temperature in gas wells. Keep equipment and people off suspect areas and call us early.
What should I have ready when I call?
A short description of what you are seeing, photos, the location on a site plan if you have one, and any recent gas, temperature or monitoring data. Do not delay the call to gather these.
Do you work outside BC?
Yes. We support sites across Western Canada, the North and internationally, and can often start remotely while travel is arranged.
Talk to an engineer now
The sooner we see the data, the more options you have.